A Santa Ana College professor is running for the State Senate

Ali Kowsari, a Professor at Santa Ana College and a resident of Irvine, has announced his campaign for the 37th State Senate District, which includes parts of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and even a sliver of Santa Ana.

Kowsari was Born in the U.S. to Iranian parents and raised in Iran. He grew up during terrible times in Iran after the fall of the Shah of Iran and the start of the Iranian Revolution. Kowsari returned to the U.S. in 1995 forever changed by his experience in Iran.

His platform includes:

• Supporting Small Businesses
• Safeguarding Communities
• and Strengthening Education

The incumbent in the 37th State Senate District, Dave Min, has opted to run for Congress instead. Min was arrested and cited with drunk driving in May of this year, while he was in Sacramento.

Min is a Democrat. Kowsari is a registered Republican. Kowsari told the O.C. Register that “My neighbors who own businesses don’t care if it’s a Republican or a Democrat who solves their problem. They care if their problem is solved.”

Here is Kowsari’s bio from Santa Ana College:

Kowsari is the Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Global Business and Entrepreneurship department at Santa Ana College; and the Chairman of Namvers, Inc., a global trade and distribution company based in Irvine, California. Ali has over 20 years’ experience in international sales and global marketing, new market penetration, negotiation, and consulting. He has diverse global business experience in various fields including consumer goods; food and commodities; consumer electronics; and hi-tech supply chains and networks. He has done business and traveled extensively in Europe, China, Middle East, and Latin America. He has an MBA from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, and also holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Electronic Commerce, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. He is currently earning his Doctorate in Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University. Ali is a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP).

You can follow Kowsari on Facebook here.